[Hashi/bipolar mom]

So, I had a bit of a mental breakdown last night! My anxiety is over the top! As mentioned, my psychiatrist added Lithium with my Lamictal (that I've been on for several years). With this new Bipolar diagnosis, she is weaning me off Cymbalta. I've gone from 120mg to 60mg over the last month. Here is the kicker, as soon as I get to the 60mg (twice trying now), I'm fine for a couple of days and whamo I'm in the middle of extreme panic and anxiety. I took my Xanax last night and it didn't touch it! I told my husband that I'm going to have to at least go back up to 70-75mg (I count the beads in the capsule) and he started going off that I have to get off the Cymbalta per my pdoc's orders and then he lost it over my Xanax! Saying everybody abuses it (he has my bottle and dispenses it to me) and he says he knows several ppl on it and they all abuse it! He made me feel so bad that I told him I would try to wean off it this month too if that would make him happier (I take .5 twice a day). He said no, that I need to quit obsessing over all my meds and do exactly what the doctor says. I just got up and went to bed crying. I'm so over all of this! I'm so scared about the new meds, weaning off old, and my upcoming court case! I'm overwhelmed and don't want to be here. If it wasn't for my great teenage son I wouldn't be! Sorry to be morbid!

[raspberrytorte]

Not EVERYONE abuses xanax. Jeez. I have a coworker who has been on it for twelve years and only takes .5mg in the morning and has never abused it.

Weaning off of meds sucks. I feel for you there. Maybe call your doctor and say you feel you're being tapered too fast?

Anyway, hope you feel better soon. Hugs!

Oh, and I understand being anxious about a court date. I got a DUI in 2005 and was just sick with anxiety before it.

[CopperStar]

My current theory is that if you need to take something daily that Nons think might make you feel nice, then you're abusing it, but if you need to take something daily that Nons think must suck, then it's definitely something you need whether you like it or not. I think they just feel resentful for whatever irrational, self-absorbed reasons and don't feel 'okay' about us being mentally ill unless they feel confident that we are definitely suffering 24/7. It's pretty warped.

[convalescence]

Medication withdrawal is tough. I know this much. I'm sorry that you're having such a hard time. I withdrew (verb tense?) f/ Effexor and had a terrible time dropping from 37.5mg to 0mg. Don't worry. Withdrawal does not last forever! You will get through this, just give it some time and take it day by day!

[lacerta]

I feel for you! Take it slow and safe, don't engage in reducing 2 drugs at the same time. Hugs!

[Hashi/bipolar mom]

Thanks guys! I'm just so sick of this!!!

[Crazy Hitch]

Yeah weaning off some meds is a beep beep beep!

Ugghghg sorry you're going through this.

[Sonorotto]

Wow Hashi, you are really going thru a lot. Totally uncool that instead of support your hubby adds to your anxiety. He's married to YOU. Not those other people that abuse Xanax. Call ur doc and let her know whats happening. Weaning too much to quickly can make things much worse. Cutting your dosage in half in just one month seems excessive. It depends on how long you have been on a med. dont recommend weaning off more than one med at a time. Thats not healthy. We had similar issue with my doc of more than two decades. After a failed back surgery he said was taking too much medicine. He switched our Xanax to Klonapin. Klonapin is hell in a pill. Think Zanax is abused? Klonapin is a thousand times worse. Took it for six months. Took15 months to get off it. And have permanent issues from it. If your doc is not 'feelin' what your saying try talking to a pharmacist. We changed docs - it is still a fresh hurt, like a death - when you loose a doc that taken care of you for more than half your life. But got a new doc that listens to us. And WOW she checked thyroid and am hypo, not producing like it should, and thats way serious. Turns out many anti-depressants, bipolar, Schizo, etc., drugs affect the thyroid. Lithium use in particular affects thyroid function. Old doc never checked and had been on Lithium for twelve years. When the thyroid is not functioning like it should it affects your moods, anxiety, etc. one other thing to consider is SSRI's. Google that to see if it might fit your issues. Our old doc had us on stuff that didnt mix.
We now use Kratom to take the edge off. This is a legal herb that we take in powder form. Google that too. Mite help.
Hope things get better for you!!!